SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday detected and destroyed illegal poppy cultivation at two separate locations and registered cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Officials said Police Station Pahalgam, acting on reliable information, conducted an operation at Branpath and found Mohd Ibrahim Bhat, son of Gh Hassan Bhat, resident of Sofipora, illegally cultivating poppy over approximately 17 marlas of land. The crop was destroyed on the spot, and FIR No. 40/2026 under Section 8/18 NDPS Act was registered.
In a separate action, Police Station Mattan acted on a written input from the concerned beat officer and found Mohd Hussain Khan alias Azad, son of Mohd Afzal Khan, resident of Gopalpora Khurd, cultivating poppy plants in his orchard. The plantation was also destroyed on the spot, and FIR No. 52/2026 under Section 8/18 NDPS Act was registered.
Police said further investigation in both cases is underway.
